Why Martinez is not the right man for Liverpool

I do not believe Roberto Martinez should not be the next Liverpool manager, here is why.

After the sacking of the man they referred to as their king, Kenny Dalglish, the media questioned who could possibly be the next man to take control at Anfield. Optimistic fans of Liverpool made the kind of manager the wanted pretty clear "Mourinho!" shouted some, "Guardiola!" said others. Since the departure of Rafael Benitez in 2010 they have tried the lower premier league manager route - Roy Hodgson and they had tried the returning legend -Kenny Dalglish. Neither brought the success such a historic club expected which led to their dismissals. When the media linked current Wigan manager Roberto Martinez with the post the general consensus was suddenly that he was the kind of man Liverpool needed to take them forward, I am here to disagree - he is not the man for the job.

During his three season tenure at the DW Stadium Roberto Martinez has led The Latics to finishes of 16th twice and 15th once. While it is something of an achievement to keep Wigan in the Premier League I believe Martinez' achievements have been overrated by both fans and media alike who have understandably warmed to him as a person whilst ignoring the fact that he has yet to manage a season in the top flight where Wigan fans have not had to worry about relegation for considerable portions of the season. The squad Wigan have should be able to stay in the Premier League anyway - they have spent considerable amounts of money on Ali Al-Habsi, Jean Beausejour and Victor Moses to name three since Martinez has been in charge. While I believe Martinez is a reasonably talented manager his hiring would certainly not get the pulses raising around Anfield.

Roy Hodgson became Liverpool manager in 2010 on the back of a Europa League final and respectable 12th place league finish. He was a coach with vast European club and international experience who was able to attract big names to the club. Of course it did not work out for the current England manager at Anfield but he certainly gave it his all - bringing in a manager from a lower Premier League side appeared to be a failed experiment. When Kenny Dalglish return fans expected amazing things, he had of course lead Liverpool to glory winning a total of eight league titles as a player, player/manager and manager. When immediate success did not come many claimed he had lost his abilities, he had been out of the game too long others said, after spending extraordinary amounts of money on players like Andy Carroll, Luis Suarez, Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing he failed to impress the new American owners - he was given the sack.

At the time of writing Betfair have Roberto Martinez priced at 1.87 to be the clubs new manager with the closest rivals being Andre Villas-Boas at 8.2 and Brendan Rodgers at 10.0. If Liverpool really want to challenge for Premier League titles again they need to buy more quality players, I don't believe Roberto Martinez will be able to attract players of the calibre somebody like Benitez or Capello could. A large amount of the fans of the club feel a big name is what is needed, somebody like Guardiola is surely unrealistic as would be an Ancelotti or Hiddink due to their current employment statuses. However if pushed I believe a Capello, Villas-Boas or even Rafa Benitez could agree to take charge. All three have something to prove, after what was deemed a "disastrous" World Cup Fabio Capello may want to show the English public just what he can do as a manager. Andre Villas-Boas was perhaps sacked somewhat prematurely by Chelsea chairman Roman Abramovich but he remains as another who is not proven as a capable Premier League manager- he may well want to change that. Finally Rafa Benitez had a very disappointing time as Inter Milan boss after leaving Liverpool, he would almost certainly take the job if offered it.

My question is this; do Liverpool fans really want a manager who spent almost all of his career playing in the English lower leagues and has only Swansea City and Wigan on his previous managerial jobs list or would they rather see an established name who is able to attract players able to place Liverpool firmly back in the race for the Champions League places and perhaps further down the line the title? Villas-Boas or Capello would interesting choices, a Rafa return would be extraordinary. These names should be far ahead of the man who's Premier League claim to fame is consistently making it look like Wigan are doomed to relegation before saving them in dramatic circumstances.

I would happily take Martinez. What has to be remembered is that FSG aren't lookin for a manager in the traditional English sense. There is a major re-structuring going on & they're looking for a young dynamic manager to be the face of the club. Rafa won't get it, he won't even be asked because he's known not to fit in to the structure. The other positions of Sporting & Technical Directors, if filled correctly with van Gaal or somebody of his ilk, will take care of attracting top players so that it is not inextricably tied in with the new boss.

AVB has managed less than 100 top flight games in his career, has 20 prem games under his belt and managed to alienate everybody from Drogba to the tea lady at Stamford Bridge, including his own signings. He is too young to command full respect from senior players and although he may have had 1 great season in his home country and in Europe's second competition, that doesn't make him a great manager.

You cannot compare Hodgson and Martinez. Whereas Hodgson is a dinosaur with one rigid, defensive style of play and no imagination, Martinez is an i-phone with an exciting new app to be applied for each specific game. I.e. he has a fluid, attacking, adaptable approach that he tailors week in week out.

Capello is far to old to be hired by FSG, they paid their dues to the fans with Kenny but now that chapter's over, they will opt for their original plan; a young manager. Also, Capello has zero PL experience and was less than inspiring as England boss, despite arriving with a great CV.

The 3 players you mention cost Martinez 10.5 mil, the same that he managed to recoup Villa for N'Zogbia having picked him up on the cheap from Newcastle and revived his career. Al Habsi was second choice at L'Pool & then unwanted at Bolton, Martinez has allowed him to develop into one of the best in the prem, just check the stats. Moses picked up for 2.5 for Palace now xlubs are willing to pay 8-10 for him. Beausejour, relegated with Brum, Martinez has made him an integral player at Wigan & one that will return a profit should he leave. All great pieces of business to identify affordable players, get them and make them shine. Very Moneyball, very FSG.

Martinez has done brilliantly at Wigan on a shoe-string, having to sell his best players at the end of every season. He has more prem experience than any of the others mentioned bar Rafa, and he won't be coming back. He has won a title with Swansea and it was he who created their flowing passing style that everybody raves about now. Not only has he kept Wigan up for four straight seasons, he has made them exciting and attractive to watch and neaten some really big teams by out-footballing them.

Whilst I can see where you're coming from with this piece, I completely disagree. I am a Liverpool Fan, have been for 27 years so far, and I would welcome Roberto Martinez as our next manager. He ticks all the boxes for me and his loyalty, enthusiasm, honesty, ability to inspire players will be serve him well at Anfield should he get the job.

The problem with Liverpool are not the coaches or managers. The problem is simply their owners. They run Liverpool like a MLB or NBA franchise. They simply do not understand the specificities of "soccer" and most importantly of LFC.